Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Historically the style of play that Manchester United uses focuses primarily on their wingers.
Look over the archives and the Red Devils have been blessed with some aesthetically gifted footballers in these areas from George Best, Norman Whiteside, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo, to name just four.
At present, this current United side can boast Antonio Valencia, Nani, Ashley Young and still Giggs to perform these functions.
However, as always manager Sir Alex Ferguson is looking towards the future and remoulding the current crop of ‘Fergie’s Fledglings’.
January’s transfer window was typically quiet by Sir Alex, but he has added one of
English football’s most sought after players with Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha.
Zaha signed a five-and-a-half-year contract, before being loaned back to Selhurst Park for the remainder of the campaign. The young midfielder can already boast an England cap – when he came on as a substitute in England’s 4-2 defeat away to Sweden last November.
Playing his third full season at Palace, he’s gained many admirers as he has taken the Championship by storm.
Former Eagles’ legend Mark Bright had this to say about Zaha when recently speaking to talkSPORT:
“Manchester United have bought potential.
“He’s been so exciting these last couple of years and he’s got so much better.
“He potentially can be another Ronaldo. He’s got great skills. He can use both feet. He’s got excellent speed and great endurance as well. He’s learning and he’s played for England.
“He’s gone to the right club. You know you can’t hold onto someone like that and £10million plus add-ons is a good fee for him.”
Quick, strong and with two good feet already, Zaha has the potential to be a shining light for both club and country over the next decade. If he can emulate anything that the Portuguese star has done, then I for one will be very happy with the £10 million purchase.
One player who has been compared to ‘CR7’ is Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale.
The Welsh wonder has been receiving plaudits ever since he destroyed Manchester City’s Maicon, then of Inter Milan, in the UEFA Champions League two seasons ago.
This campaign, the marauding left winger is currently having his best season to date for both club and country – so much so that he has been touted in the same bracket as Lionel Messi and Ronaldo.
Now while I think this is a bit premature, it is quite obvious that Bale, with no disrespect to Spurs, could play at a higher level.
I believe he’s happy in North London at the moment, but with the lure of the Champions League football at some other clubs who knows what the future holds?
I could see him playing at European giants Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Real Madrid but the thought of him playing in the red of United is a tantalising one.
Without doubt there would be instant comparisons to Giggs, but with Bale on one wing supplying and scoring goals it would unequivocally aid to the Red Devils already impressive armoury.
Obviously though, capturing the services of Bale would come at a hefty fee.
With Daniel Levy being the Spurs chairman, and one of the shrewdest men in football, rumours of a minimum £50 million offer only suffice for the White Hart Lane outfit. An inflated price indeed and one I’m not sure the Glazers would sanction, but at just 23-years-of-age Bale is still yet to reach his peak.
Just imagine though the thought of Bale and Zaha on the flanks at the Theatre of Dreams in years to come. Frightening indeed!
One thing for sure is that any dreams would rapidly turn into nightmares for opposition full-backs if that was to happen.
By Luke Augustus @Luke_Augustus29
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I think after his performance on Monday there are a lot of teams that would love Gareth Bale. The boy is getting stronger and developing into a really top player. Man Utd are no different in that they would love him and he would improve our team a lot. Its a shame we didn't push the boat out when he was at Southampton, but that's football.
Its clear that we are doing well this season and going along in the Premiership to hopefully win the title. The strikers have contributed well and Van Persie has been a fantastic signing. Rooney has done well in flashes but can still give more to the team. Welbeck has lacked goals but he lacks nothing in terms of work rate, heart and desire and that is proven by starting him in big matches. Hernandez has been very good as well and is vital to our squad. The defense has improved a lot in the last 6-7 games and that is a good. I would say that Carrick and Cleverley have done well in central midfield, and Phil Jones is doing a good job when called upon. The area that has been a disappointment this season is the wingers and the wide area.
Valencia has been nowhere near his level this season. I don't know if it is the number 7 shirt but he is not having the same impact he was providing before. Nani has really been poor this season despite an improved performance against Reading and his assist against QPR. Young is another player who just hasn't done that well this season and hasn't even scored a goal so far. Overall Young has had a stronger impact that the others, but it still hasn't been great.
If there is an area that Ferguson can invest and improve on then it is the wide areas of the midfield. I think Nani will leave despite all the talk. Wilfried Zaha has been signed and he is a talent, but does still seem a bit raw. I'm sure he will get plenty of games next season to develop his talent further. I can still see another winger being signed, but I can't see it being Gareth Bale sadly. Tottenham are difficult to negotiate with and, unless there is a clause allowing us to come in for him without much hassle, we won't be able to sign him. We have to look for talent that can develop in potentially the same manner. I think the Colombian attacker named James Rodriguez could be the player we need. I think Zaha and Rodriguez would bring energy and freshness to our team, and input pressure on Young and Valencia to perform better.